Chain hoist



R E. NELLE S CHAIN HOIST Filed Feb. 22, 1945 April 24, 1945.

W aim [r Patented Apr. 24, 1945 JLQUNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICECHAINHOIST I Russell E. Nclles, Millburn, N. J., sst-gm to The UnionManufacturing Company, ..New Britain, Conn acorporati on of ConnecticutApplication February 22, 1943, Serial No. 476,793

17 Claims. (01154 168) invention relates to that type of hoistingapparatus embodying a chain or sprocket wheel loosely supporting a chaincommonly manually operated, said wheel being connected with the hoistingmechanism for operation thereof, and an object of the invention, 'amongothers, is the construction of a chain hoist provided with means foroperatingthe chain wheel or sprocket by means of. power mechanicallyapplied and with a power unit supported independently of the hoistingunit; a further object of the invention. is: the provision of meanswhereby resistance offered by the hoisting unit. toop'eration of thepower unit will cause the latter to automatically operate an electricswitch to control supply of power current to said power unit; and astill further object of the invention is the provision ofi means wherebyoperation of said switch may inga. load chain I 2. I'usea hand wheel l3as heretofore employed supported outside of and adjacent one of 1 thecovers of said' housing by mechanism extending" through said cover, saidwheel being: illustrated herein merely a a convenient. means forconnecting my improve-d drivi-ng mechanism with a hoisting unit ofexisting constructionj The driving unit as illustrated herein comprisesa supporting yoke N that, as well as: the supporting hack 8, dependseither stationaryor movable from. above, said driving unit employing a,link t5 and eye IS. A driving shaftrl 'l is rotatably supported inbearings 8I9 at the outer ends of the arms --Zl of the yoke I4, as

shown in Figs; 1 and 3 ofthe drawing. A. gear be automaticallycontrolled in a manner to prevent overloading oi the hoisting unit.Other objects will appear as the invention is unfolded by furtherdescription in connection with the drawing illustrating the mechanism inthe construction and operation of whioh the objects herein set out,as-well as others, may be attained. In i said." draw-ing t Figure l isxaview in elevation of my improved larged scale of the mechanismconnecting the driving power unit with the hoisting unit. and on a planedenoted by the dotted line 34:- of Fig. 1. Figure 4 is a view onenlarged scale in section on a plane denoted by the broken line 4--4ofiEig'. 2.

Figured is a, detail viewon enlarged scale showing the electric switchand. the means and inethod for operating it.

Figure 6 is. a view in section on a plane denoted by thobroken line E -Sof Fig. I. i i As shown in the accompanying drawing thehoistingmechanism is of old and well known construction and a detailedshowing and description is not required herein for afull understandingof the invention, itbeing suflici'ent to state that such mechanism iscontained in a chain hoist housing comprising a. front cover 6 and aback cover I spaced apart to accommodate a supporting book 8 projectingfrom a supporting" hook swivel 9- through the space between the covers,said mechanism further comprising parts not herein specificallydescribed but including a load. sprocket t0 and a load chain stripper IIalso extending through said space and support case and motor support 22comprising a power unithousing is. suspended between the arms 20- and:It, said case including a cap fitted: to close the open endrofthecaseand secured in any suitable to'the case adjacent the arm 21. Amoto'r base 24 is formed as a part. of the case 22. and a motor ZSis'secured to the base. and

serves as a means for driving the mechanism within the case. The spindle26 of the motor has a sprocketi'secured at its outer end and achain?!.connects'thesprocket with a sprocket wheel zll mounted" on astud'shaft 25 extending withinthe ease A upinion 30 rigid with thesprocket wheel-2.8 meshes with an intermediate gear 3l having anintermediate pinion32 rigid therewith and in mesh with a; driving gear33. The gear it and pinion M3Z are suitably rotatably' mounted within.the case and the driving geanS-Cisecui'edtQ thedriving: shaft H is inmesh with thewintermediate pinion 321 The driving shaft it is rotatablymounted within the ease and has one member 35- of a flexible jointsecured thereto, the other member 36' of. said joint being secured toone end of: connecting shaft3l, the oppositeend of said. shaft beingconnected to the hand wheel l3 by means of a spider comprisingaplurality of spider arms 41] which may be. employed in such numbers asmay be desired,

two being shown herein. Each of these arms terminatesat. one end in ahead 41" including a v frictional shoe 44 formed to fit upon the rim ofa conventional hand wheel. These arms comprise tubes formi ngspace'rsbetween the heads 4| and a tubular drivem'e'mber 42 into which the shaft31* extends and to which it is secured in any suitable manner.- Bolts43: extend through the heads 4L spacers, and drive member 42",. thesebolts servingto securely clamp the members togethen. This: provides ayielding frictional. conshaft nection between my improved power unit anda conventional chain hoist without requiring any mechanical operationsupon the hand wheel.

The power unit may be constructed as a separate unit for sale to presentowners of standard chain hoists or such power unit may be sold completewith a chain hoist of any suitable character connected thereto, in whichcase the spider may be employed or equivalent means may be used asdesired for connecting the extension shaft of the power unit to the handwheel of a chain hoist, in either case the hoisting unit comprising anactuating member, as a chain operated wheel or other means, operativelyconnected with the hoisting mechanism for operating it, said lifting orlowering a load.

pressed inwardly will operate in accordance'with different types ofswitches to break the electric circuit and thereby shut off the currentsupplied to the motor through the wires aeb in a manner that will bereadily understood. In the arrangement herein shown said switch is sup-It will have been seen from the foregoing description taken inconnection with the drawing that the motor is supported underneath andin vertical alignment with the axis of thedriving When' the motor isstarted the resistance to its rotation offered by the connection withthe hoisting unit and the load lbeing lifted thereby will, by reason ofthe torque established in the motor spindle, create in the motor to alimited extent a tendency to revolve the entire power unit about theaxis of the driving shaft H. The resistance offered by the weight of themotor, the gearing housing and gears therein disposed, as shown will besufficient to counteract the tendency of the power unit to revolve to apoint inadequate. for

lifting the load for which the apparatus is designed, thereby cushioningsaid torque effect of the motor and this constitutes a material elementof the invention. Should theypower unit, owing to the forcesgenerated-by the starting of the motor, revolve to a slight permissibleextent under the rated load, after normal speed is ac-- quired the unitwill gradually return to its normal position in vertical alignment withthe shaft By the suspension arrangement of the power unit as hereinexplained and its tendency to yield whenever the hoisting unit isoverloaded I have created in'thepower unit a counterpoise action andthis is a most essential feature of my invention; So long as the load onthe hoisting unit does not exceed in weight. that for which it isdesigned the power'unit will maintain. its stability in its operation toraise the load. How ever, should the hoisting unit-be overloaded to suchan extent that the power unit is unable to lift the load then theforce'of the power unit will be exerted to raise itself and I have thusprovided acounterpoise action or means for acquiring structuralequilibrium which is an important feature and one that is practicallynew in connection with" hoistingmechanism so far as I am aware.

Therefore in order to' adjust the capacity of the device I have providedmeans for varying the capacity of the counterpoise action by providingfor the removable application of weight of different sizes to the powerunit, as herein shown and as a convenient means this weight 45 beingremovably afiixed to the bell of the motor case, as by inter-engagingthreaded means.

' I have utilized this tendency of the power unit as a whole to revolveas hereinbefore described to limit the weight to be handled by thehoistin unit and thereby prevent overloading'and also to preventunintentional or accidental lifting of of the supporting yoke M. I! andthe extensionipower shaft -3'!.

ported on the cap 23 of the gear case and the plunger 42 extends out ofthe end of the switch case in position to contact with a cam 43 which issecured to or formedon the end of the arm 2| The radius of this cam willgradually increase equally in. opposite directions from the normalposition of the plunger 42 up to points on diametrically opposite sidesof the cam where it is desired the plunger will be moved sufficiently tobreak the electric circuit, and from this point the periphery of the camwill be formed concentrically with the axis thereof. As an example thenormal position of the plunger 42 may be vertical under the axis of thecam and the points at which this divergence of the cam will terminatemay be diametrically horizontally opposite on said cam, and fromthese'points the periphery-of the cam will be concentric with its axisto a point in vertical alignment with the axis of the'cam. j

Some tolerance maybe permitted for excess loading of .the hoisting uriitwhich may effect some slight normal revolution of the power unit but notto. an extent to cause such revolution to a point for operating theswitch to shut olT the power.

reflected in the power unit causing it -to revolve to an extent tooperate the switch toshut off the power and prevent further lifting ofthe load, thereby permitting the parts to return to normal position.

the hoisting mechanism the same action 'will take place as though anoverload were placed upon the hoisting chain and this will be at oncer'eflectedin the tendency of the power unit to revolve and the electricswitch will be immediately operatedto shut off the'power'and preventinjury to the mee'chanism. I

The cam 43' is formed as above described so that it may accommodateitself to different types of mechanism inv which the motor spindle maythe connecting mechanism and I wish therefore to have it'understood thatthis'connecting shaft may beara universal joint at either or both endsor that such universal joint maybe entirely dispensed with.

It will now be appreciated from the disclosure of this invention thatthe latter comprises a structure that is in the nature of a counterpoisein Should, however, the load on the hoisting unit be excessive this willbe instantly Should excessive movement of a normal load by thehoisting'unit take place until such load comes in contact with thehousing of a t-hat .tiFlGyDOWGI' innitwhen:peratedrwiilccounterr-balance 'vforcessset up Joy: the hoist-irrgunit; in, the action of iraising I respective nor :2 rated 51103.65,this i-coimterpoiseiactiomof: thegpower unit :being presenttduring tanynormal operations-of therhoisting unit andaaffiordingrthesafety featurewhenirated iloadi-upon ithei hoist) hook is: exceeded iasipre'de-.termined, resulting incabnormalioperationof the .hoistingrimit. I

i awhile vit -is vnot; absolutely essential rthat the .power unit..-shall 1 be positioned -iw-ith the motor spindle in tvertiealalignment with the a driving :shaftmyet, it is desirablethat,said;power.;unit shall .havessubstantialiys this, position and it' -willI there i-tore he nnderstoodnthat the zparts laswshownz the xdsawingareuso aconstru'eted as to distribute the weight; to, accomplish thispurp ose.

\WhiieJI have ridisclosed herein may improved power innit r-as employed2130 eoperate ta i hoisting mechanism a I -.contemp1ate that ithe.;;invention is vcapable -;of a Wider use :and :may be eemployediorsthe operation-yof-mechanisms of various sorts sand itiis-.to-be=understoo.dthat 1 the. invention-is there-fore not. limited,not soniyato the "operation of a rsingletmechanism vbut-to fillSGnil'lconnection with. app ara-tus of-iany rparticularadeseription.

. Inaccordancewith the provisionsof the-patent statutes .1.have-andescribedithe principles of oper- ,ation-i of my, invention,qtogether with i the device which 1L now-consider torepresent therbestreim- ,bodimentrtiereof; hut-Iv desire. toiiave it under- :stood thatthe tdevice EShQWD s is only illustrative .andthatttl'ie iinvention may1 heicarried out i by .other means:andrappliedito uses other thanthoseabove set out.

HIV claim: i a

1. "In. combination i-with a chain hoisting r ,unit comprising l1oisting mechanismsand means 1' for supporting ,saidounit,a power-iuniticomprising a (yoke having supporting arms, meansior suspendiIigr-said,yoke fromian overhead support-ea driving shaft :rotatablymounted. in.said arms, an operative ,connection .between said .driving shaft 2 andthecmechanism of said hoistingrunit, a case sup- ;ported ,.between said,arms i and .into which said driving. shaft. extends a motor; supportedby said icasegand an. operative ticonnection-wwithini the case ,between.said motor and said" drivingshaft.

2. In combination with a'chain hoistingunit comprising ,hoistingmechanism and means for and the-rmechanismwofi said! hoistingzunit aasupmorting lmrember pivotaily suspended from said -sus'pensionrmember a;motor .ca'rniedwby-ssaid supportingimembenran :openative-connection:between said motonandrsaidrdriving shaft; and an-electriciswitch'rideviceifor said-motor randaarswitch actuaatinga :device:mounted forsrelativermovement, T0116 device onreach-i of -said members,v-Wherebyw moveime-ntrof said-:supportingzmemberwill-ieifectsopersupporting said unit apower-unitcomprisingia suspensionmember, a driving shaft rotatably mounted ini-sai d. suspension member,:operative ..connection "between said driving .Yshaft and themechanismuofi saidihoisting unit a supporting remember pivotally Lmounted :on=.said driving ishaftand dependinghtherefrom a; motor affixedto saidisupporting imember below the level i015 said drivingshaftandontoperativeiconnection between said motor and said driving shaft,saidconnection including a driving-train of-qgearsr havingon ofitsimembers securedutosaid. drivingtshaftvand another or itsmembersoperatively connected with theispin'dleiofr said motor.

3. "In ..comhination with war chain. hoisting -unit comprising hoistingmechanismand-tmeans for supporting said unit apoweruunit comprising vasuspension member, a driving shait rotatably mounted insaid suspensionmember an operative connection .between said driving i haft randithemechanism a. of said hoistingunit, the-power unit comprising viasupporting member mounted in swinging relation to .saidsuspension;memberon the axis .ofrandunderneath,saiddrivingsshaft, a motorimountedionsaidsupporting memloeri-atgthe tatablih mounted in operativeconnectionwbetweemsaid:idriving :shaft ai'iiom-ofv :saids switch a tobreakz the: electricvcurrent sup-plywtossaidiinotor. i

.75. --,In (combination with z !a chain hoisting unit comprisinghoisting "mechanism sand ;:means -:.for supporting said unit, wag-POWERunit :compi-isingna suspension-member with tmeansiiorssupporting it from,an eoverhead support,- ardriving rshaft rrotatablyrmountedi intisaidisuspension member, an operative connection between :said @drivingsshaft andsthe :mechanism ofisai-drhoisting unit zaasupporting member;.pivotaily suspended from :.:said

suspension member iorsswingingmovement;thereon, a-motori carriedbyt-isaid asupporting? imember, .anaoperativer connectiombetweensaid:motor-a-and saidudriving shaft wherebyiswinging movement of ithesupporting member isr-effected;= an electric switch mounted on saidsupportingumembernto control i supply of electric current [to ssai'dsmotor, and imeans positioned 'ror ."engagementn-with said switch-as itis moved thy; movement; =0fosaid supporting \member :to operatesaidgswitch to breakthe r electric: current. supply -toesaidimotor.

..6. In; ,combiination with Ea tchainihoisting ;unit comprising hoistingmechanism and omeans rfor supporting said unit ai-suspensiommember withmeans jior supporting it from r211 overheadssupport, .a driving sshaftrotate/hiy mountedfimsaid suspensionimember, r811operative-connectionbetween-said: driving shaftean-d:thex mechanism :ofsaidhoisting: unit, -arpow'er .unit: comprising: a: gear case pivotallyrmounted: on" the: iaxisa-ofssaidxdriving vshaft, a tmotor mounted on:;said ragear rcase rbelowsfiid :dr-iving shaft; a a gearediidrivingivconnection -b etween said: motor ancrisaidrdrivingtshaftwhereby eexoessive tongue in 'gsaid "Ldrivirrg :shaft wiileffect:counterpoiseiaction'.bysaidrmotor relatively [to said'i-hoist-ing innit, 1; an rielectriciswitch mounted on said case, and-;a .switch sactuating member mountedron said suspensionrmember andpositioned for contact WithfSfliid'SWltCh to operate it to out ofi atheelectric i: currentwsupply to said motor. i a i 7. In combination :vvithia :chain zhoisting unit comprising i hoisting 'mechanism and imeans forsupporting said unit, a :power innit reompri'sing a suspension m em-bervwithcmeansi for. supporting it from an 1 overhead :support, aitririvingnshaft ro- '{SQrid rsuspension :i'member, -=an and: the:mechanism, of :said hoisting unit, ra supporting amember pivotally:mounted ion :the axis ofisaid driving shaft,.iaainotorxmounted on saidsupporting ;member :below :zsaid ridriving =sha'ft, an:operative1connectiombetweencsaid motomand said driving shaft and mountedon said supporting member, an electric switch mounted on said supportingmemer and comprising an actuating plunger, and a cam mounted on saidsuspension member forcontact by said plunger to operate said switch tocut off theelectric current supply to said motor. i

8'. In combination with a chain hoisting unit comprising hoistingmechanism and means for supporting said unit, a power unit comprising asuspension member with means for supporting it from an overhead support,a driving shaft rotatably mounted insaid suspension member, an operativeconnection between said driving shaft and the'mechanism of said hoistingunit, a gear switch actuating plunger comprisedin said switch,

and a cam mounted on said suspension member for contact by said plungerin the pivotal movement of said gear case to cut off the electriccurrent supply to said motor;

9. In combination with a chain hoisting unit comprising a hand wheelmember, a suspension member for said unit, a power unit comprising asuspension device, a driving shaft rotatably mountedin said suspensiondevice substantially in line with the axis of said hand wheel member andoperatively connected therewith, a supporting member rotatably mountedin said suspension device on the axis of said drivin shaft, a motor lsupported by said supporting member, and an operative connection betweensaid motor and said driving shaft.

'10. In'combination with a chain hoisting unit 0 comprising a hand wheelmember, a'suspension member therefor, a power unit comprising asuspension device, a driving shaft rotatably mounted in this suspensiondevice substantially in line with the axis of said hand wheel member andoperatively connected therewith, a supporting cated below the axis ofsaid hand wheel member,

means for establishing the degree of swinging movement of saidsupportingmember within an arc of 160 (degrees) in either directionfrom its normalposition, and an operative connection between said prime mover and saiddriving shaft.

11. In combination with a chain hoisting unit comprising hoistingmechanism, means for supporting saidunit, and a power receiving shaft toreceive power for operating said hoisting mechanism, a power unitcomprising a pivotally mounted supporting member, a driving shaft withinsaid supporting member means for rotatably supporting said drivingshaft,an operative connection between said driving shaft and said powerreceiving shaft, a prime mover supported by said supporting member in aplane, below said driving shaft and operatively connected. therewith andby reason of said position providing-weight in its normal position andindependently of mechanical means to resist tendency of said supportingmember to rotate about said driving shaft, means for readily addingweights to said power unit to increase the resistance of said supportingmember against'rotation about said driving shaft caused by theresistance of said hoisting mechanism to rotation by said driving shaft,cut-off mechanism on said supporting member to control supply of powerto drive said prime mover, and means on said supporting member tooperate said cut-off mechanism.

12. In combination with a chain hoisting unit comprising hoistingmechanism, means for supporting said unit, a power unit comprising apivotally mounted supporting member, a driving shaft within saidsupporting member, an operative connection between said driving shaftand said hoisting mechanism, means for rotatably supporting said drivingshaft, a prime mover supported by said supporting member in a planebelow said driving shaft and operatively connected therewith and therebyproviding weight in its normal position and independent of mechanicalmeans to resist tendency of said'supporting member to rotate about saiddriving shaft in opposite directions froma normal position, means onsaid prime mover for readily adding weights whereby the weight necessaryto maintain said supporting member within a definite arc of movement ineither of opposite directions from its normal position can be added tosaid prime 'mover to oppose the normal resistance to rotation of saiddriving shaft, electric switch cut-off means located on said supportingmember and switch actuating means interposed in the path of movement ofsaid switch cut-off mechanism on opposite sides of said supportingmember to control supply of power to drive saidprime mover upon movementof said supporting member in either of said opposite directions.

13. In combination with a chain hoisting unit comprising a hoistingmechanism including a chain wheel shaft, a chain wheel supported by saidshaft, means for supporting said hoisting unit, a power unit including aprime mover and a driving shaft operatively connected therewith, anoperative connection between said driving shaft and the hoistingmechanism, said connection including spider arms and means for removablyattaching said arms to said chain wheel and to a'member of saidoperative connection, said attaching means comprising ayieldingfrictional member located between said spider arms andthe chain wheel.

14. In combinationwith a chain hoisting unit comprising hoistingmechanism and means for supporting said unit, a counterpoise power andcontrolling unit operatively connected with said hoisting unitandincluding a suspension device,

a driving shaft rotatably supported by said device and operativelyconnected with said hoisting unit, a supporting member swinginglysupported by said driving shaft and depending therefrom, a motor carriedby said supporting member, and an operative connection between saidmotor and said drivinglsh'aft whereby torque created by said motor andthe resistance of said hoisting unit will effect a swinging movement ofthe supporting member on said driving shaft and thereby create acounterpoise function in said power unit.

15. In combination with a chain hoist unit comprising hoisting mechanismand means for supporting said unit, a power unit comprisinga suspensionmember, a driving shaft rotatably mounted in said suspension member, anopera tive connection between said driving shaft and mechanism of saidhoisting unit, said power unit also including a supporting memberpivotally mounted on said driving shaft and thereby sup: ported by saidsuspension member, a power producing-member attached to saidsupportingmem her, and an operative connection between said power producing memberand said driving shaft,

the weight of said supporting member being disposed to counterbalanceforces set upby the chain hoisting unit in raising a load, said powerunit thereby acting as a counterpoise weight for said hoisting unit.

16. In combination with a chain hoisting unit comprising hoistingmechanism and means for supportingsaid, unit, a suspension member, apower unit suspended from and for swinging action underneath saidsuspension member, said power unit comprising a driving shaft rotatablymounted in said suspension member, a supporting member pivotallysuspended from said driving shaft, an operative connecting means betweensaid driving shaft and the mechanism of said hoisting unit, a motorconstituting a part of said power unit and ailixed to said supportingmember, and an operative connection between said motor and said'drivingshaft whereby the torque created insaid driving shaft efiectscounterpoise action by said motor relatively to said hoisting unit.

1'7. A power unit comprisinga pivotally suspended member, a drivingshaft journaled and supported on said member, a depending support solelysupported for pivotal movement on and about said shaft, a motor on saidsupport, drive 1 connections between said motor and said shaft,

means for attaching weights on the motor, a

switch and operating device for said motor, one on the suspension memberand the other on the supporting member whereby predetermined movement ofsaid supporting member will effect operation of said switch to break theelectric current supplied to said motor upon predetermined resistance ofsaid shaft to said drive motor.

RUSSELL E. NELLES.

